Scrapping for Less ~ June Flavor of the Month ~ At the Beach!

Ahhhhh! My most favorite place in the entire world to be! 

Salt air in my hair, sand in my toes and the sound of crashing waves, what more can a girl ask for to be totally relaxed? Well, the next best thing to me is to grab some summer-themed products and make beach themed cards! And do we ever have that on the agenda for today! So grab yourselves an island cocktail (not coffee this time) and lay back in your lounge chair and browse through the wonderful creations the design team and guest designers have to offer you today. Our fabulous “At the Beach” card kit is available now, but don’t fall asleep in that chair or you just might miss out!

Here's a look at the Banana Split subscription for this month's kit.

I was super excited when I saw the Beach theme for this months card kit! Let's get to the cards!

For my first card I used Sketch #4 with Collection One. 

As soon as I saw the shark in this set, I knew I had to use him for my focal image. He's such a happy shark... look at that grin! I followed the sketch pretty closely with this one, adding the strips of patterned paper and banner directly to the Nightshift Blue card base. I stamped the sentiment from the At the Beach Sentiment set by Scrapping for Less and die cut it with a stitched banner die.

I used the following copic markers on this card ~ Y06, Y35, C00, C1, C3, C7.

For my second card I used Sketch #1 with Collection Two.

I wanted to give the fish some room to swim so for this card I flipped the sketch so the focal image could be wider. I used the Vitamin Sea patterned paper for my layers in the background. I colored the background by blending a few distress inks. I stamped the fish, crab, and coral on scrap pieces of white card stock and fussy cut them out. I stamped the school of fish a few times on the background and then ran the background through my big shot with the Lawn Fawn Ocean Wave die from the Banana Split subscription. I adhered all the pieces to create my scene and then popped it up on the card. I stamped the sentiment on Nightshift Blue card stock using Versamark watermark ink and heat embossed ultra fine white embossing powder. I trimmed it into a banner and popped it up on the card.

I used the following Distress Inks on this card ~ Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Faded Jeans, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade.

For my third card I used Sketch #3 with Collection Three.

I had a blast creating the scene for this card... it's so wonderful when your idea for a card actually works out! Once I had my layout figured out with the patterned papers I stamped the castle with Tea Dye distress ink and the sun with Wild Honey distress ink. I masked the castle and blended the background using Tea Dye, Tumbled Glass, and Squeezed Lemonade distress inks. I added some dimension to the castle with copic markers and also colored in the seal, bucket and shovel that I had stamped on a scrap piece of white card stock. I fussy cut those pieces and set them a side. I die cut the chair from Blu Raspberry card stock using the Adirondack Chair die in the collection. I adhered the patterned papers to the panel and then die cut the whole piece with a stitched rectangle die and then adhered it to a Blue Raspberry card base. I layered my partial circle with the same size circle that I die cut from Blu Raspberry card stock. I adhered that piece to the card and created my little scene with the seal. I had planned to stamp the sentiment but I thought it would be fun to use the puffy sticker included in the collection and naturally, the little crab just had to play along too. These puffy stickers have a glossy finish to them that made it difficult to photograph the card, unfortunately, but I do think they add a bit of fun to the card.

And since I used the puffy sticker for the sentiment on the front of the card, I decided to do a little bit of stamping on the inside.

I used the following Distress Inks for this card ~ Tea Dye, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey. I also used the following copic markers for this card ~ C00, C1, C3, YR02, YR15, YR68, BG000, BG15, E30, E35.

For my fourth card I used Sketch #2 with Collection Four.

I had some fun using the patterned papers to create the layer on the card base. I used another bit of patterned paper (the brown layer) which is hard to see in the photo but it has palm trees all over it. I created the focal scene using distress inks and a bunch of masking. I stamped the palm tree on a scrap piece of white card stock and colored it in with copic markers. I fussy cut it out and adhered it to the scene. I stamped the sentiment on the 'sun' with Memento tuxedo black ink. I adhered the scene to the brown layer and popped it up on the card base. I added three gem stickers and called this card done.

I used the following Distress Inks for this card ~ Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Tea Dye, Antique Linen.

I used the following copic markers for this card ~ G03, G14, E55, E57.

I hope you enjoyed the cards I shared today. I had so much fun creating them to share with you all.

Let's get to hopping and see what the other members of the design team created!

~ Blog Hop List ~

Scrapping for Less

Katie

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Tina

LeeAnn

Tanya

Stacy

Luci

Desiree

Courtney

Jessica

Jess

Kristina

Teresa

Jenn

Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter on the Scrapping for Less Blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ May FOTM Blog Hop ~ In the Countryside

Hay there! Let's head to the farm and the countryside this month! We are showcasing many wonderful and fun farm critters and lifestyles with our super cute kit this month! So jump on the hay wagon and travel along to all the wonderful blogs to see what we have cooked up in our country kitchen today to inspire you and knock your socks off! 

Head over to the Flavor of the Month page and grab yourself a kit or a subscription today! Thanks for stopping in and ya'll come back now, ya hear!

Make sure you enter that Rafflecopter for a chance to win the prize for this month. 

So... let's get to the cards!!

For my first card I used Sketch #3 with Collection One. 

So... I had a little fun with this design. When I saw the papers in this collection had what looked like plates and of course, there's chickens. I just had to make a 'picnic' of sorts for my design. I started with the layer of 'picnic blanket' paper on a Wild Cherry card base. I die cut the 'plate paper' with a small stitched rectangle die and adhered them to the card. I die cut a stitched oval for my 'platter'. I stamped the image and colored it in just a little bit with copic markers and then I trimmed it down and mat it on a scrap of Wild Cherry card stock. I adhered the stamped image piece to the platter and then popped up the piece on the card. I added a few sequins and the Carta Bella tag from the collection and called this little picnic done!

For my second card I used Sketch #1 with Collection Two. 

Now for this card I omitted part of the sketch element... the background paper was just too cute to cover up anymore of it. All those adorable little horses and trees... love them! I also kept this card pretty simple by using the Down on the Farm Mini Icon stickers and Chit Chat tag to build a scene. I used distress inks to blend the sky and grass background and then I just added all the stickers and adhered all the pieces onto a Kraft card base. Super easy and quick card!

For my third card I used Sketch #2 with Collection Three.

I think the stamp set in the third collection is my absolute favorite... it's a new Scrapping for Less set called Piggy Picnic! This set has adorable images and funny pun-tastic sentiments - Love it!! I kept the design for this one kind of simple by layering it all on a piece of white card stock. I then wrapped the pretty ribbon around and tied a bow. I popped up the panel using foam tape and then set it aside. I inked up the 'picnic blanket' in the stamp set and then masked it to blend the grass and sky. I die cut the whole piece and then layered that on a larger sized white die cut piece. I stamped the adorable little pig and basket on a scrap piece of card stock, colored them in, and fussy cut them. I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with a small banner die. I also die cut a piece of Wild Cherry card stock to mat the sentiment onto. I added a few drops of Nuvo Sea Breeze Jewel Drops... they don't show up well in the picture, but they add a fun little touch in person!

For my fourth card I used Sketch #4 with Collection Four.

I wanted to go with a monochromatic theme for this card (aside from the grass, of course). I wanted the focus to be on the one ewe so I inked up four of these little gals on post it notes and fussy cut them out. I alternately masked them to make my flock of sheep and masked them again to blend the grass with distress ink. I colored the one little focal ewe in front to make her stand out and go along with the sentiment. Ewe are the best! I trimmed down the piece, mat it, and wrapped it a couple times with the twine in the collection. I then added some layers to my card base and popped up the main image. Oh, and for the sentiment... I actually die cut the space there so the sentiment is stamped directly on the card base through the negative space. I added a few sequins and called this one done!

I shared a sneak peek a couple of days ago using the Technique Junkies set in the Banana Split subscription... you can check out that post ---> here.

But before you check that out... let's finish up hopping (or start hopping... :) ) and see what the Design Team has for inspiration this month... I bet it's all amazing!!

Scrapping for Less

Tanya

*Guest Designer* Andrea

LeeAnn

Courtney

Jessica

Luci

Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Katie

Desiree

Tina

*Guest Designer* Annie

*Guest Designer* Michelle

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Let's Get Merry & Bright ~ October Flavor of the Month Blog Hop

Merry Halloween? Well, it is here at Scrapping for Less! 

Since our cards reveal the last Saturday of the Month and then take a bit of time to get them shipped out (although we have a brand new system set up for this month... so, hopefully, we will get them out in record time!). 

So, with all that said, our October card kit is our “Merry and Bright” Christmas kit…the Design Team ooohed and ahhhed over the September kit….and this one is not any different they are soooo excited! And cannot wait to show you their creations! So hop on along with us and get inspired with all of the loveliness you are going to see along the way. 

But don’t delay in getting your kit because I know this one is going to sell out in lightning speed! Head on over to the Flavor of the Month page and either sign up for a subscription or if you just want to try it out you can order a 1 time purchase. 

The card kits this month are amazing!! They are all full of Merry & Bright goodness!

For this hop I used just the products in the Double Dip Sundae subscription.

I had so much fun with these kits... I love Christmas papers and stamps!! Don't you?!? They are so fun and cute! Here are the four cards that I made for the hop using the four collections and the four sketches... 

My first card using Collection One and Sketch 4. 

I stamped the Snow Flurries stamp repeatedly over the white card front using a Mocha ink that I stamped off a few times to get the light brown flakes. I then cut a strip of the tree paper and mat it with green card stock. I adhered that piece and then decided to use this cute Ephemera piece as the focal point. I added a couple of the sweet stockings and a few sequins to finish off the sketch. So cute!

My second card using Collection Two and Sketch 2. 

I cut and adhered two pieces of patterned paper and added a thin strip of green card stock. I die cut a white circle and a green scallop circle for the focal point trimming them to fit. I added a few light blue snowflakes (I borrowed the stamp set from Collection One) and some sequins for the snow to tie the scene in with the snowflake paper in the background. I stamped and colored the little seals on a separate piece of card stock and then fussy cut them out. I colored the bottom of the cut circle to give the seals a place to 'sit'. I had to get creative for the sentiment on this one. I decided to use one of the Ephemera pieces so I cut it (it originally said 'Christmas Cookies') and stamped directly on it masking the unnecessary words. So it became "a Christmas kiss"... so cute!! The last touch was popping up the sentiment. 

My third card using Collection Three and Sketch 3.

I had fun with this sketch... I love that it used so many different layers so I could use more of the pretty papers. Out of all the collections, the Knit Picky papers in this collection are my absolute favorite!! I started with a large piece of patterned paper and then added the other pieces. I also wrapped a white twine from my stash around the piece and then adhered the entire piece on a white card base. I die cut a white circle and then stamped my sentiment masking the words as needed. I stamped the otter on a separate piece of white card stock and colored it in with copic markers. I fussy cut it out and set it aside. I die cut the leftover strips of paper from the background piece using a stitched hillside die. I layered them on the bottom of the circle to give the little otter somewhere to sit. I popped up the circle piece on the card and then adhered the little otter. The last few touches on this card were the red pearls and the little snowflake sequin (on the green circle piece). 

My fourth card using Collection Four and Sketch 1.

This card came together pretty quickly. I cut and layered all the pieces onto a white card base. I die cut a stitched oval from one of the pieces of patterned papers and mat it on a white stitched oval. I layered the pieces and adhered them to the card. I added a few sequins around the oval and then decided that the card needed something... the words 'quiet time' in the sentiment got me thinking that a deer in the meadow is just what I needed. I blended a few different brown inks on this wood deer to soften the deer up. I adhered it to the card and called it done. I love the snowflake background with the deer prancing off... it definitely says 'quiet time' to me!

I sure hope that you've enjoyed the cards I have to share with you for this hop. Now it's time to check out the rest of the wonderful projects created by the Design Team...

~ Blog Hop Line Up ~

Scrapping for Less

Stacy Tiedemann

Tanya Hahn

Crystal O. Minkler <--- you're here

up next ---> Tina Smith

Jessica Wilson

Katie Williams

Sandy Hentzel

Make sure to head back to the Scrapping for Less blog and enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a great prize! 

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

More Cards Featuring the August Flavor of the Month Card Kits from Scrapping for Less!!

Hello, again! I have another round of cards featuring the August Flavor of the Month card kits. I also revisited a couple of the sketches... and I have to say that Sketch #4 was my favorite!

This card was done with absolutely no stamping. I was able to put together different pieces from the third collection. I also added just a touch of twill. I think this would be a cute birthday card for a little boy... they are the definition of rough & tumble!!

For this card, I stuck with the same sketch and the same collection. I nearly put this one together without any stamping... but I found a little birthday stamp and couldn't help but add it! Jungle birthday... too cute! I'm thinking this would be another cute birthday card for a little boy (even with the sequins! Ha).

I think I mentioned last time that I love polka dot papers, I just had to use them for this card and my favorite little owl was a must, as well! He's just too cute! I traced the little cloud shaker shape onto a sturdy scrap of card stock and then used that as a sort of cloud stencil. I sponged around the edge (and a lot on my fingers!) to make a sky. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't added the gray paper behind the shaker. Attaching it to the 'sky' piece would have been really nice, but I changed my plans halfway through and couldn't go back. I'm sure you've been there too. :) I did a little masking magic to change up the sentiment for this one and used the My Favorite Things Speech Bubbles die to add the sentiment to the card. Too cute!

Now my last card is really a fun and quick way to use up all those scraps of paper that get left behind after making all these cute cards. This sentiment, that I hadn't used yet, was also perfect to finish this card off! 

Hope you enjoyed these cards and they give you inspiration for your own kits. If you haven't already signed up for the Flavor of the Month card kits, well... what are you waiting for?! 

Go have a look ---> here! 

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ Flavor of the Month ~ Hello

Hello again! I'm here with another look at the August Flavor of the Month card kit. I have a few cards to share with you and a fun tag!  

I thought that it would be fun to make a couple shaker cards using the Pink & Main Hello dies from the Banana Split subscription. I was able to use just two pieces of The Story of Us paper from the fourth collection by alternating the papers for each card. I finished up the package of Kennedy Grace sequins and my last flower for this collection. I used a couple of scrap pieces of acetate and some other shaker elements in my stash to complete the card. I think they turned out pretty cute!

The shaker cards left me with these outlined 'hello' cuts, so naturally I just had to make a card (or two) using them, as well. Can I share a secret with you? Do you see the back layer of my cards? The stripes on one and the floral on the other. Those aren't full card front sheets. I cut out the middle of those sheets for another use. Just another way to stretch out every piece of paper in your stash.

I wanted to keep these cards pretty simple so I added a few strips of washi tape and popped up the hello die cuts and adhered that onto a white card base (with our outline of patterned paper ;) and there you have two more cards.

The Banana Split subscription also includes a couple fun natural canvas tags. I just had to pull out some stencils and my distress spray stains and get inky! Seriously, I had blue fingers all day after spraying the Mermaid Lagoon stain! Haha! I don't mind though. Anywho, once I had the tag sprayed using a few stencils, I thought... why not make a stencil using the Pink & Main Hello die in the kit?! So I did, but I only made a partial stencil... I only cut out the letter 'h'. I hot glued the flowers that I had set aside for this tag and found some fun buttons in my stash. I cut a hole in the top of the tag and secured the jumbo eyelet using my good ole' crop-a-dile. I found some ribbon and twill in my stash that I tied off with some twine and the last little touch came from a gift I received from my husband this week that included this sweet little fresh pearl on the gift packaging. I just love how this came together!! Oh, and I used some clear Wink of Stella on the letter 'h'... it's so shimmery and fun!

Have you signed up yet for the next Flavor of the Month card kit?! 

Go check out the details ---> here.

Thanks for stopping by!

See ya next time.

~ Crystal